CHAPTER TEN: BONDED

The searing ball of flame ignited, lingered for a moment, then died as quickly as it had been born.

"You must try harder," Zedd said as he munched on an apple. "The energy to sustain Wizard's Fire must come from inside yourself; you are out of focus."

"I am trying, Zedd," Vincent retorted, with just a touch of anger in his voice. "By the spirits, I am trying. It would be much easier if I didn't have this damned ornament around my neck!" He glowered at Zedd as he fingered the Rada'Han.

"If not for that 'ornament,' as you call it, your headaches would have destroyed you long before now. I know you are anxious to be rid of the Rada'Han, but your training isn't complete: you have yet to pass the final test, the test of pain-"

"I have lived my life in pain, Wizard!" Vincent was shouting now. "I have lived this long only through the grace of witch, who raised me only so she could use me for her own nefarious ends. I was raised to be a murderer, my victim none other than my own cousin!"

Vincent's hands begin to shake. "I confessed my best friend, the girl I loved! She is worse than dead, because she chose to befriend me! What pain could you give me, which could even begin to match my own?! What-"

A gust of wind, knocked Vincent backwards, and sent him sprawling into a bookcase.

"Calm down," Zedd said. Vincent shook involuntarily. Zedd's voice had gone deadly soft; the apple lay forgotten at his feet. He seemed to grow in power and majesty. He wasn't Zedd anymore. He was Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander, Wizard of the First Order, the Wind of Death. His gray eyes bored into Vincent's reddish-blue ones.

"You have led a harsh life," he said. "The spirits have not been kind to you, Vincent Amnell. But that does not mean your life is not worth living. Yes, the world fears you, it wishes you did not exist; it does so because of the actions of those who have come before you. It will take much work on your part to prove to the world that it need not fear you. It will be difficult; in life, nothing is ever easy.

"You must take control of your life, Vincent, so that others do not control it for you. And stop yelling at people who are trying to help you!"

Vincent managed a small smile for his teacher. "Sorry, Zedd."

"Quite alright, dear boy, quite alright." Zedd picked up his apple, bit into it, and gestured to Vincent, indicating that he was to try again.

"Now, once more, with feeling!" (Cookies to anyone who figures out where this reference is from.)

Vincent returned to the Confessors' Palace exhausted, and in a sour mood; he ached everywhere.

"How did it go?" Richard asked. Vincent grunted his response as he marched past.

"That bad?" he asked Zedd.

"Not really," the wizard replied. "He can do it, if only for a few seconds. He has trouble channeling his Han. The boy's mind is too fettered to preoccupied. If he could learn to focus on the task at hand, then he would pass with flying colors."

"Do you know what's bothering him?"

Zedd thought back to Vincent's outburst earlier. "I know some of the story, but not all."

"Maybe I should talk to him…" Richard mused, but Zedd shook his head.

"He will tell us when he is ready, and not before."

Vincent took the stairs one step at a time. Just as he was about to enter his room, Aaron began to cry. Sighing, Vincent turned around and went to the baby's room. Upon entering, Vincent could not help but smile at his cousin; his small arm had lodged itself between the bars of his crib as he reached for his favorite doll.

Vincent bent down and gently freed Aaron's arm, and the child stopped crying long enough to flash him a small smile. Vincent handed Aaron his doll and he cooed in delight: Aaron then proceeded to beat Vincent's hand with it. Vincent laughed. He felt free now, lighter somehow, because he knew that no matter what happened, no matter what life threw at him, he could always count on Aaron's smile. The thought comforted him, eased his turbulent mind: it filled him with resolve.

Shota believes Aaron will destroy all life, but I know she's wrong. He will have a harsh life, and there will be many opportunities for to fall…

Vincent felt a tug on his finger; Aaron was pulling at him with all his strength.

…but he will not be alone. I will be there to guide him, to protect him.

Vincent thought about Richard and Kahlan, and Zedd. "You have a whole family behind you, little one," he whispered.

Family.

Vincent thoughts return to Richard and Kahlan. He smiled. They accepted me, they're my family now, too. We are bonded now, in more ways than one.

Just then Richard burst into the room.

"What's wrong?" Vincent asked.

"Kahlan and I were strolling through the grounds…and something happened."

"What?"

"I felt you," Richard said.

Vincent was confused at first, then Richard's words sank in.

Oh Crap.